Skidmore Studio To Move Into Madison Theatre Building
DETROIT (WWJ) - A 52-year-old advertising and design firm is moving back to its roots. Skidmore Studio is moving from Royal Oak to Detroit, signing the lease Friday to take space in the Madison Theatre building.
Tim Smith, President and CEO of Skidmore Studio, said the company can't wait for their homecoming.
"We were founded in 1959 in downtown Detroit and in the early 70s relocated, like many, to the suburbs and now, with the resurgence and what's going on in Detroit, we wanted to get back into the city and we are absolutely thrilled to have that opportunity," Smith said.
Skidmore is a creative studio focusing on branding and marketing strategies, graphic design, motion graphics, interactive design and online media.
Skidmore built an early reputation for its illustrative work for the Big Three car companies. The studio relocated to Troy and Southfield in the mid-1970s, and to its current location in Royal Oak in 2004.
Skidmore plans to move their 23 employees to a 9,800 square foot space on the fourth floor of the Madison Theatre Building, located at 1555 Broadway, adjacent to the Detroit Opera House and Grand Circus Park, later this fall.
Smith said with the move, the company also plans to hire more employees.
"We think we'll add at least one or two people by the end of this year and we expect to add three or four people each year for the next three or four years. We're hoping to be back to our heyday from the mid 30s in our very near future," Smith said.
Skidmore will begin building out its space in the Madison Building, preserving its architectural integrity, including the existing terracotta brick tile and steel ceiling beams.
The studio also hopes to restore and display an early 1900's Super Cinex movie projector, discovered on the floor during the construction.
The building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917 as part of the Madison Theater complex.
The building's two street level tenants - Angelina Italian Bistro and Stub Hub - will remain open for business while the upper floors are renovated.
To view samples of Skidmore's award-winning creative work, visit www.skidmorestudio.com.
